Exchanging Wedding Rings this Valentine’s Day: Unusual Venues

This Valentine’s Day a few lucky couples were given the chance to tie the knot, almost literally on cloud nine. Thanks to a recent wedding contest, 14 brides-to-be and their grooms were given the chance to exchange wedding rings and vows on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in New York City today.

The winners were chosen from stories and photos submitted by the hopeful contestants, some of whom, like Dana Acevedo from Staten Island, didn’t even know it was possible to get married at the iconic Manhattan building.

According to an article in the New York Daily News, Acevedo, a 24 year old nursing student, saw an online banner ad for the contest and decided to give it a shot. It turns out that her and her fiancé are one of the 14 couples that will take turns getting married in 30 minute intervals throughout Valentine’s Day.

The venue is ideal for another couple, Patrick Davenport and Jennifer Herring, who according to the Daily News, got engaged on the 86th floor in 2009. It was a surprise proposal that was almost ruined when the engagement ring set off the security alarm before Davenport had asked. Things worked out for the couple from Nashville though, and they were chosen to relieve their happy moment today.

In other unusual venue news, McDonalds in Hong Kong held its first ever wedding event today since it launched their “Warm and Sweet Wedding Package” program in January. The formal event, a surprise engagement party, featured pink balloons and a “cake” made from apple pies.

Other features that come with the $1,282 package are wedding gifts, pink invitation cards emblazoned with golden arches, with optional add-on’s like gown rental, balloon corsage, and large pink McDonald’s backdrop.

This idea may seem far-fetched in the US, but with 2 more wedding parties confirmed and around 70 more inquiries it looks like for young Hong Kong residents, this idea looks like it is on the move this holiday season.